The bureau says Amazon's pricing policy allows it to penalize sellers for certain conduct such as setting significantly higher prices for products compared to other prices on Amazon or elsewhere.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The Competition Bureau says it has obtained a court order as part of its probe into Amazon’s conduct related to its online Canadian marketplace.
The regulator is investigating Amazon’s fair pricing policy.
The bureau says the policy allows Amazon AMZN-Q to penalize sellers for certain conduct, including if they set a price for a product on Amazon.ca that is significantly higher than recent prices offered on Amazon or elsewhere.
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Online marketplaces allow shoppers to buy products from both third-party sellers and, in certain cases, the platform itself. Third-party sellers typically pay a commission or other fees to use the platform.
The regulator says the investigation focuses on a potential abuse of dominance and is distinct from its investigation into Amazon’s marketing practices.
The court order from the Federal Court requires Amazon to produce records and information relevant to the investigation, the bureau said.
Amazon spokesperson Julia Lawless said the company’s store and policies are designed to help customers find products at low prices, with a variety of delivery options, and that it will continue to collaborate with the Competition Bureau to demonstrate this.
“Our tools are designed to enable customers to make informed purchase decisions and maintain their trust, while supporting the thousands of Canadian businesses that sell through our store,” Lawless wrote in an email.